A driver crawls onto the roof of his car Friday morning on Lord Road in Lebanon, Maine. The man had to be rescued after his car got stuck on the flooded road and began taking on water. (Photo courtesy of Lebanon, Maine, Rescue)

LEBANON, Maine — Rescue officials helped a driver to safety after his car started taking on water on Friday morning.

The Lebanon Rescue Department, Maine State Police and Lebanon Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle stuck in the water with the driver still in the vehicle and the vehicle was taking on water. The incident was reported at 9:04 a.m. near 88 Lord Road, about a half mile from Little River Road.

The EMS Command truck was the first apparatus on scene about four minutes after the call was reported and located a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am in the water with water up to the steering wheel and still rising. The driver of the car was climbing out and sat on top of the car.

Lebanon Rescue Crew Chief Mike Sabine was able to use his personal 4 X 4 truck to back close to the car with his tailgate down and have the driver jump to his truck. The driver was able to safely jump and was removed from the water area.

“Two Lebanon Rescue members used water rescue suits to check the vehicle for hazards and confirm there was no one else in the vehicle. When we got out to the vehicle, the water had risen above the front seat and was filling the back seat of the car. Rescue crews confirmed there was no one in the car and stood by while the tow company was able to pull the car out.” Assistant Chief Jason Cole added.

This area has seen several vehicles get stuck in the water in the same spot.

“I know of at least five vehicles in the past few years who have tried to make it down Lord Road all the way and ended up in the same spot this gentleman did. Unfortunately several GPS machines show this as a travel route and people unfamiliar with the area attempt to use the road, which is not town maintained. Several roads listed on GPS units that are listed as passable but are not in Lebanon and we have had to go to other roads for similar calls. We cannot stress enough not to ever try to drive through flooded roads. Turn around and seek another route.” Cole added. “This call was about 1 mile away from the location where two people died on Chick Road during the Patriots Day Storm six years ago from trying to cross a swollen river on foot. When we heard the person was still in the car and it was taking on water, and we just attended the anniversary memorial service for those victims, you have a lot running through your mind.”

After the first few incidents on Lord Road, the road crews put signs up on both the Little River Road and the Long Swamp Road end saying the road is not a through road, but the driver did not see the sign and followed the GPS.

“Fortunately no one was hurt. It appears the car is a total loss, but the driver was thankful that he was able to get out safely and that's what truly matters.” Cole said.

The driver of the car was a male in his early 20s from Barrington, N.H. He was enroute to the Portland, Maine, area when the GPS sent him up Lord Road.

The vehicle was finally removed around 10:30 a.m. and emergency crews cleared the scene.